Earth Day Patch Contest Winners
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced the winners of the 2023 Earth Day Patch Contest. Over 2,000 students and 116 schools entered this year’s contest.
Winners in three age categories are Ella Fernandez, Fessenden Bowdon Elementary, (K-4); Brooke Livingston, Kenmare Public School (5-8); and Alex Dodgen, Minot High School Central Campus (9-12). Livingston’s design was chosen as the overall winner and will be made into the 2023 Earth Day patch.
Youth and adults who participate in cleaning up public lands receive the 2023 patch to celebrate Earth Day and their service. Projects that qualify for the Earth Day patch include refuse pick-up on local, state or federal properties and landscaping on public property including planting trees, bushes and pollinator plants.
Groups participating in the service projects are encouraged to take the following precautions to ensure their safety: keep young people away from highways, lakes and rivers and only allow older participants to pick up broken glass or sharp objects.
Participants are asked to contact Sherry Niesar at 701-527-3714 or sniesar@nd.gov to receive a patch.
Professional Development for Educators
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is sponsoring professional development for educator workshops this summer in Fargo, Devils Lake and Dickinson.
Using Visual Arts to Teach Life Science will be held June 6-7 at North Dakota State University in Fargo. The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and identification of local resources. North Dakota resources, environment and wildlife will be emphasized. Participants will experiment with clay, water, pastel and colored pencil. No previous art experience is necessary.
Habitats of North Dakota: A New Generation of Lessons will be offered June 27-28 at Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, and July 11-12 at Dickinson State University, Dickinson. The North Dakota Habitats curriculum and new Habitats Lesson Plans will be used as textbooks. The course is suitable for elementary and secondary teachers. The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and walking field trips, weather permitting. All supplies are provided.
For more information contact curriculum specialist Sherry Niesar at 701-527-3714. University graduate credit is available for the workshops.
